The Dial/Volume 15/Number 171/Briefer Mention
BRIEFER MENTION.
Princeton College is rich in historical memories, and Mr. George R. Wallace, a recent graduate, has taken advantage of this fact in his volume of "Princeton Sketches" (Putnam). Mr. Wallace relates many episodes in the history of Princeton, from the reign of Dickinson to the reign of McCosh, and illustrates them with facsimiles of old documents and photographs of modern buildings. "The Princeton Idea" is the subject of the closing chapter,—and, as expounded by the author, an excellent idea it appears to be.
"Appletons' General Guide to the United States and Canada" for the year 1893, not greatly changed from former editions (except for an illustrated World's Fair appendix), makes its appearance in time for the uses of the summer tourist. The same publishers send us their new "Guide-Book to Alaska and the Northwest Coast," a work prepared by Miss Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, and uniform with the two volumes of the "Canadian Guide Book" of Messrs. Roberts and Ingersoll. These books are illustrated, which we think is a mistake, and their maps and plans leave much to be desired.
The "Latin Lessons" (Houghton) of Messrs. Henry Preble and Lawrence C. Hull, are "designed to prepare for the intelligent reading of classical Latin prose." They are based upon the standard grammars (Andrews and Stoddard, Allen and Greenough, Gildersleeve, Harkness), but may be used independently of any other book. There is an extensive vocabulary. Mr. A. S. Cook has edited Leigh Hunt's "What is Poetry?" (Ginn) for the use of students of English. The latest modern language texts are "Le Piano de Jeanne" and "Qui Perd Gagne" (Sower Co.), by M. Francisque Sarcey edited by Mr. Edward H. Magill, and "L'Histoire de la Mère Michel et de Son Chat" (Heath), by M. de la Bedolliere, edited by Mr. W. H. Wrench.
The "Shrubs of Northeastern America" (Putnam), by Mr. Charles S. Newhall, is a companion volume to the author's handbook of our native trees, published two years or so ago. The analytical guides, three in number (based on flowers, leaves, and fruit), are simple and adequate. There are over a hundred pages of outline illustrations. Thirty-four orders are represented, and more than twice that number of genera. Mr. Newhall is preparing a similar work on vines. The amateur botanist has much reason to be grateful to the author for these helpful handbooks.
Volume XXXV. of the "Dictionary of National Biography" (Macmillan) extends from MacCarwell to Maltby. The "Macs" get the major share of the articles, and among them we note Macduff, Earl of Fife (whose name seems strange enough in this connection), Macready, and James Macpherson. Later in the volume come Father Prout, Sir Henry Maine, and Sir Thomas Malory, three worthies whom one does not usually think of grouping together.
"Whittier with the Children," by Miss Margaret Sidney, and "A Song of the Christ," by Miss Harriet Adams Sawyer, are two pretty gift-books published by the D. Lothrop Co. The former is in prose and the latter in verse, and both are illustrated. "An Octave to Mary" (Murphy), by Mr. John B. Tabb, is also a gift-book, oblong in shape and comprising eight simple religious poems. The booklet is given distinction by its frontispiece, which reproduces in photogravure an "Annunciation" by Mr.E. Burne-Jones.
"Shirley," in two volumes, follows "Jane Eyre" in the exquisite Dent edition of the Brontes. Mr. William Black's "Yolande" and "Judith Shakespeare" (the latter one of his three or four most successful novels) are the latest additions to the popular Harper reprint of his works. And at last, with illustrations by Mr. Gordon Browne, appears "Ivanhoe" in the Dryburgh "Waverly," published by the Macmillans.